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2008-12-09

Gluten-Free Chocolate Brownies Recipe with Pecan Meal

A rich, gluten-free chocolate brownie with pecan flour.

Everyone needs a rich decadent brownie treat now and then. Especially if you wake up to snow and ice and no electricity. Which means of course, no heat. No hot water. No shower. Which translates into one very bad hair day. And one prickly, cranky goddess. I'm serious.

When the power finally flickered back on (after sputtering on and off and torturing our electricity deprived souls for hours) I heated up some leftover quinoa with artichokes and cranberries.

And Steve decided to make brownies.

I have an idea, I told him. Would you experiment? For the sake of our Wonderful Readers? Absolutely, he responded. What's it gonna be?

Pecans, I told him. Belgian chocolate brownies made with pecan meal.

That's the moment, Dear Reader, when he smiled.

Unfortunately for my vegan and egg-free readers, this brownie recipe contains eggs. Because all my tests and valiant efforts to create an egg-free brownie at high altitude has only led your plucky noshing goddess down a path of bitter disappointment and oily boiling chocolate slabs of gunk that in no way whatsoever resemble a brownie you might actually like to bite into- which- in a tender baker's dreams, one would wish for, fervently.

But. No.

Add eggs- and you get these beauties (pictured above).

Sometimes life isn't fair.

Gluten-Free Chocolate Brownies Recipe

If those of you living at a friendlier altitude care to veganize this recipe- and wish to share your results- please do. I plan on trying this recipe egg-free (for me) when we eventually return to sea level. But for now I'll simply share the recipe with you and trust Steve when he tells me, Yeah. Damn good.

Line an 9x11-inch baking pan with parchment or foil and lightly oil the bottom.

Using the microwave (or double boiler), gently melt the dark chocolate and shortening. Stir together to combine. Set aside.

In a medium mixing bowl, beat the eggs on medium high till frothy. Add the brown sugar and beat until the mixture is smooth.

Add the melted chocolate mixture into the egg-sugar mixture a little at a time - incorporate it slowly- and beat well for a good minute. The chocolate will look smooth and glossy.

In a bowl, combine the dry ingredients: pecan meal, sorghum flour, sea salt and baking soda; whisk together. Add the dry flour mix into the chocolate mixture and beat well for a minute. Add the vanilla, beat another half a minute or so.

Spoon the batter into the prepared pan. Shake the pan a little bit to even out the batter.

Layer the semi-sweet chips all over the top of the batter and press them in slightly, if adding.

Bake in the center of a preheated 350 degree F oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the brownies are set. Do not overcook. *Now- here I must give you a BIG note- we bake at high altitude so these took extra-long for me to bake. But traditionally, a recipe like this one comes in at around 25 to 35 minutes.

So please, I beg you- watch them like a hawk- take them out when you know they are done- and test for doneness in the center- they should be firm but give slightly when touched.

Cool on a wire rack. Slice and enjoy. Freeze leftovers wrapped in foil and bagged.